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FRIDAY January 30, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 10, 2003 Raiders seeing blue-gray By Rich Rosenthal Tidings Correspondent The storied collegiate football career of Southern Oregon University All-American tailback Dusty McGrorty isn't over just yet. The record-setting ball carrier, along with placekicker/punter Steve Baker and receiver Andrae Thurman, have received invitations to play in the 65th Blue Gray All-Star Classic on the Troy State University campus in Montgomery, Ala., on Christmas Day. The trio don Raider helmets for the final time in the country's second-oldest collegiate all-star game, which will be televised on ESPN2 starting at noon Pacific time. "It's a great honor for these players and for our program," SOU head coach Jeff Olson said. "It's a terrific way to finish a college career and to be seen by pro scouts." McGrorty, a soon-to-be three-time All-American and an NAIA player-of-the-year candidate, capped his Raider career with 5,414 rushing yards (No. 4 all-time among NAIA players), 79 touchdowns (No. 2 all-time), 474 points (No. 2 all-time). The all-time national rushing touchdown leader (75) finished with 10 school and eight regional records and finished second in the NAIA for both rushing (189.1) and scoring (14.7) averages in 2003. Baker, a probable two-time NAIA All-American who began his career at Arizona State in 1998, led the country with a 43.8 punting average this season. After transferring from the University of Arizona in August, Thurman led the team and finished fifth nationally for receptions-per-game (6.9) and ranked second among Northwest small-college players with a 105-yard game receiving average. The Blue Gray game has generated over $4 million for Lions Club programs. All player travel and lodging expenses are paid by the bowl, and the players will attend several practices and bowl-related functions starting Dec. 20. McGrorty, Baker and Thurman are the first SOU players to be invited to a major-college all-star game since defensive lineman Jon "Moose" Chamberlin competed in the 1998 Hula Bowl. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams